After more than a decade of campaigning by the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), staffing ratios will finally be introduced across medical, surgical and specialty wards including neurology, respiratory and oncology, in the next stage of the nurse-to-patient ratios rollout.
Public hospital wards will see minimum staffing levels of one nurse to four patients during the day, and one to seven overnight as part of the agreed Safe Staffing Levels (SSL) policy.
NSWNMA General Secretary, Michael Whaites, said nurses were looking forward to having appropriate safe staffing on their wards.
‘Our members are excited to hear the ratios rollout is ready for its next tranche, with staff and patients in general medical and surgical inpatient wards to benefit from safer conditions,’ said Mr Whaites.
‘Many wards across the state are overstretched because of long standing staffing shortfalls and increasing presentations, so the implementation of these ratios will ensure nurses can provide improved care to their patients.
‘This new staffing requirement will ensure that as the patient numbers increase, so too will the nursing numbers. This helps us provide the care that is needed, and that the public deserves. We note the government’s commitment that these ratios will be transparent, accountable, and enforceable.’ he said.
‘This is off the back of almost 80 emergency departments in NSW which have begun recruiting for nurse-to-patient ratios, with 31 complete since the rollout began two years ago.
‘General wards are part of the third installment of this important reform, with planning underway for the rollout of ratios across seven dedicated postnatal wards, which will improve maternity care for women and babies.’
Key commitments
The SSL rollout was a key election commitment by the NSW government, with a promise to recruit 2480 full-time equivalent (FTE) nurses and midwives by the end of the term.
NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary, Katrina Bough, said the union had been working with the state government on the implementation of the workforce initiative through the SSL Taskforce since May 2023.
‘Our members are extremely pleased to see this critical piece of healthcare reform taking shape,’ said Ms Bough. ‘We know shift by shift ratios will provide well overdue workload relief and will help to rebuild the workforce, leading to higher retention levels.
‘It will also ensure our public hospitals are safer for NSW patients so they can receive the best possible care at their most trying time.
‘We look forward to continuing to work with the government through the Taskforce to ensure this important election commitment is fulfilled.’
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